Mergenthaler linotype-machine



2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

H. T. SUNDSTROM. MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE MACHINE.

Q. W. N A m py u Patented Apr. 7, 1896 now (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. T. SUNDSTROM.

MERGENTHALER LINOTYPE MACHINE.

No. 557,716. Patented Apr. '7, 1896.

flbliowen UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN THEODOR SUNDSTROM, OF GALVESTON, TEXAS.

MERGENTHALER LlNOTYPE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 557,716, dated April 7, 1896.

Application filed December 7, 1895. Serial No. 571,383. (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN THEoDo Srnvnsrnon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mergenthaler Linotype-Machines, of which the followingis a specification.

Myimprovement relates to the elevator-arm of the Mergenthaler linotype-machine, and its object is to prevent the rubbing of the matrices against the inner walls of the channel-plates when being raised therefrom. I attain this object by interposing an automatic keeper between the elevator-arm and the matrixholder, wherebythelatter is maintained in a horizontal position and the suspended matrices in a perpendicular position until the latter have been lifted clear above the channel-plate.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a side view of my automatic keeper. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is an edge view of the keeper. Fig. 5 is a drawing of that portion of a Mergenthaler machine to which my keeper is applied, and Figs. 6 to 8 show the successive positions of that portion of the machine and my keeper attachment during the operation of raising the matrices clear of the channel-plates.

I will now proceed to describe so much of a Mergenthaler machine as is necessary to understand the operation of my invention.

A, Figs. 5 to 8, is the elevator-arm. B is its bracket, and C the matrix holder.

D is the elevator-arn1bracket spring.

F is the elevator-cushion spring-pin.

G is the guiding-post; H, the matrices, whose teeth engage in a wellknown way; and .I is the intermediate channel back plate, and K the front plate.

The well-known operation of these parts as now constructed is such that as soon as the elevator-arm A is raised the bracketspring D causes the top surface of the matrixholder O to be thrown out of the horizontal and the matrices II suspended thereto out of a perpendicular position. The result is that in the successive positions assumed by the matrix-holder C as it is raised the matrices H bear hard against the inner walls of the channel back plate J, while the supporting-teeth of the matrices are cooked in those of the matrix-holder O, and when the lower left-hand corner of the matrices reach the upper righthand inner edge of the channel-plate J the teeth of the matrices sustain another shock by the matrices snapping over the edge of plate J and striking the plate again. This action is very destructive to the teeth of the matrices, more especially to those having but one supporting-tooth on each side, in which case the tooth on one side becomes so badly worn that the destruction of the matrices is accomplished. It is to prevent this severe strain upon the teeth of the matrices that I have devised my automatic keeper E.

My keeper E, Figs. 1 to 4, consists of a hanger E adapted to be freely pivoted at its upper end and terminating at its lower or pen dent end in a laterally-extending bearing F. having an exterior curved contour. A second bearing E, which is longer than bearing E, projects from the same side of the keeper somewhat below its center in substantially the same plane as the bearing E", so that the keeper presents somewhat the appearance of an inverted F.

To increase the sensitiveness of the keeper, so that it may the more readily swing into and out of engagement with the matrix-holder O, as hereinafter described, I prefer to somewhat curve the pivoted end of the hanger E out of the perpendicular on the side of the bearings E E, and for purposes of adjustment I prefer to construct the keeper in two parts, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4:, in which the bearings E and E are formed on a separate piece E, secured to the hanger E by screws passing through slots e in the hanger, which permits of a simultaneous longitudinal adjustment of the two bearings.

My keeper E is attached to the mechanism in the following way: Referring to Fig. 5, which shows the mechanism in the position it occupies when the matrices are received in the channel, the keeper E is secured to the elevator-arm A by a screw a passing through its pivoted end in such wise that the keeper can swing freely under the influence of gravity. The lower piece E"' is then adjusted, so that the outer curved face of the bearing E is in contact with the upper surface of the matrix-holder O, in which position the inner bearing E is in contact with the elevatorarm bracket B, as shown. In this position the cushion-spring F bears against the elevator-bracket B and causes the matrix-holder C to bear firmly against the guiding-post G. A stop-pin L is provided on the elevator-arm A to limit the swing of the keeper E when the latter is released in the course of raising the lever.

The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 5, their operation is as follows: YVhen the elevator arm A is raised, the elevatorbracket pin b moves approximately in the are shown in dotted lines, while the springpin F keeps the matrix-holder O in contact with guiding-post G until the bracket B has come in contact with its stop-pin in the elevator-arm A. Meanwhile the tension of the bracket-sprin g D has a tendency to draw the matrix-holder G into a position parallel with the bracket B. (See Fig. 8.) This tendency is at first resisted by the keeper E interposed between the arm A and the matrix-holder O, which, during the early stages of the lifting operation, maintains the matrix-holder C in a horizontal position and the matrices perpendicular while being lifted clear of the channel, (see Figs. 5 to 7,) thus preventing any contact between the matrices and the channelplates. As the arm A rises, lifting the matrix-holder C and matrices in the channel, the bracket B is tilted toward the inner end of the matrix-holder O, pushing back the bearing E' of the keeper, which rests against it, and thus causing the lower bearing E to withdraw from engagement with the matrixholder 0 until the latter and matrices being lifted clear of the channel the inner end of the said matrix-holder G has reached the curved portion of the bearing E, Fig. 7, when the keeper swings free and the tension of the spring D causes the matrix-holder O to assume the position shown in Fig. 8, in which the keeper has performed the work for which it was designed and will not alter or interfere with the working of the machine until the elevator-arm A is again lowered to the position shown in Fig. 5, when gravitation will cause the keeper to assume the position there shown.

It is evident that in the construction of the keeper E the curve of that portion of the bearing E which bears again st the matrix-holder 0 must be such that every point of contact with the said matrix-holder shall be at such a distance from the center of the pivotal point of the keeper as to maintain the top surface of the matrix-holder in a horizontal position.

It is also evident that the length of the bearing E should have such a relation to that of the bearing E that the continued pushing action of the bracket B as it is tilted more and more inward will cause it to release the keeper from the matrix-holder at the proper moment.

While I have shown the bearing E as located below the center of the keeper, it is evident that its location may be varied without altering its operation, provided that the proper relations as to its length in respect to bearing E be maintained.

It is evident that the bearing E" may be attached to the bracket B and rest against the keeper E without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The center of gravity of the keeper should be so located that when the elevator-arm A is in the position shown in Fig. 5 the keeper should automatically fall into engagement with the matrix-holder.

I do not limit myself to the particular form of the bearing E, providing that it is so constructed that it shall engage and hold the matrix-holder O in the desired position until re leased by the pushing action of the bracket 13.

I have thus provided a simple, efficient, and inexpensive automatic keeper attachment adapted to be mounted with the greatest facility on machines in actual use without disturbing or replacing any of their working parts and by which I am enabled to overcome a serious disadvantage in the working of the machine, to secure an increased efficiency in its operation, and to protect the matrices from the destructive wear incident to the mechanism now in use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. The combination with the elevator arm, bracket, and matrix-holder, of a Mergenthaler linotype-machine of an automatic keeper consisting of a hanger pivoted to the said arm, and having at its pendent end a bearing adapted to engage the matrix-holder, sub stantially as described and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination with the elevator arm, bracket, and matrix-holder, of a B'Iergenthaler linotype-machine of an automatic keeper consisting of a hanger pivoted to the said arm and having at its pendent end a bearing adapted to engage the matrix-holder and a device actuated by the lifting of the said arm to release the keeper from the matrix-holder, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the elevator arm, bracket, and matrix-holder, of a Mergenthaler linotype-machine of an automatic keeper con sisting of a hanger pivoted to the said arm and having at its pendent end a bearing adapted to engage the matrix-holder, and of means intermediate the keeper and the bracket to release the keeper from the matrix-holder, substantially as described.

4. The combination with the elevatorbracket and matrix-holder of a Mergenthaler linotype-machine of an automatic keeper consisting of a hanger pivoted to the elevatorarm and having at its pendent end a bearing adapted to engage the matrix-holder, the hanger having intermediate its pivot and terminal bearing, a bearing adapted to act against the said bracket substantially as described and for the purpose specified.

5. The combination with the elevator arm, bracket and matrix-holder of a Mergenthaler linotype-machine, of an automatic keeper consisting of a hanger pivoted to the said arm and terminating at its pendent end in a bearing adapted to engage the matrix-holder and having a bearing intermediate its pivot and terminal bearing adapted to bear against the bracket, said bearings being formed longitudinally adjustable upon the hanger, substantially as described.

6. The combination With the elevator arm, bracket and matrix-holder of a Mergenthaler linotype-inachine of an automatic keeper con- 

